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Hiroyuki sizes up Madoka. The impressed look on his face gives way to an excited look, not that this is apparent given most of his face is taken up by impressive facial hair.
"As a young man, I trained Todayama men, Kiryu men, even Tokiwa Sarutobi himself. My last student before I retired ten years ago was a young woman. Todayama Tomoe, heiress to the Todayama. You remind me of her a little. Both of you had steel. Both of you had potential."

He twirls his spear, propping it up next to his foot with practiced ease. The Kamisato men form a half circle around Madoka and Hiroyuki, without hostility and with great interest; they hadn't seen the old man this fired up since he arrived.
"In my time away from the army, I have only heard of six people I had wished to test my skill against. The Dragon of Tokiwa. The Dawnfire Blade, which as I remember it now, must be your companion. A pleasure to meet you, Todoroki. The Twice Dead Man. The Unscarred Blade- you. The Jadeite Sword. And the Empress herself."

He steps into a fighting pose, lance at the ready. Hiroyuki's geniality is still there, but with the underlying steel expected of a former Imperial general.

"I accept your challenge, Horiuchi Madoka, as the Great Bull of Amatsu. To first blood we go. Are you ready to show your skills to an old man?"

"wao, yis"
The blobs part like the Red Sea, letting Keith pass through.

"Well, sorta. The guy just showed up on a horse outside Sangonomiya one day and said he was called Honda Hiroyuki, so we figured he was definitely the Ox. You'll see why."
"The hell do you mean by that?"

"Everyone! We're arriving in Sangonomiya!"
Indeed, as you look outside, the green fields of northern Amatsu have been replaced with farmland. In front of them, a small town, with a winding road leading up to the walled compound called the Sangonomiya Estate, can be seen, the Kamisato Clan's flags flying all over the place. To one side, a market area can be seen, blacksmiths openly plying their trade, merchants unloading carts full of food, medicine and the like, and a few Kobayakawa pharmacists setting up stalls.In a small, fenced-off area to the side, a few Kamisato soldiers stand in a ring around another one of their fellows and an old man in armor, clearly muscled despite his thin frame, sparring. The old man's voice can be heard across the square, a triumphant roar as, despite being older than his opponent, he floors him with what appears to be an effortless sweep of his lance.

"Close, young man! Close! You have much to learn, my friend, but I'd be happy to help!"

He pulls the soldier to his feet with a strong grip.

The wagons draw to a halt as a small entourage of Kamisato soldiers, led by a young man in Kamisato heraldry, approaches the wagons. The young man places a fist to his chest and bows. The Cursed who do not already know him can sense it; he's the Snake.

"Greetings, my comrades. It's good to see my friends have made it here safe. To those of you who don't know me, allow me to welcome you to my family's territory. My name is Kamisato Kensuke, first son of Kamisato Renji, and representative of the Kamisato Clan. It is an honor to meet you all. Please, feel free to make Sangonomiya your home for the moment. It is not much, but we will offer it to you as honored guests."

"That sucks. Still, the more the merrier, right? I'm glad you guys could make it. Kiritani's been real anxious to make sure you made it safely to Sangonomiya, if all the letters he's sent over the last couple of days are anything to go by."

"Aww, lighten up. I heard you're supposed to be the funny one from Traxesa here, aren't you?"
"Um....cute?"
"Did I stutter?"

Rin's eyes widen.
"W-wait! She's....t-the Rabbit?! Uh...I-I'm so sorry, Miss Rabbit! I didn't mean-I mean, I wanted to cuddle you, because you looked so cute, b-but if you don't like it, I can-!"
"Aww. And I was really enjoying getting hugged by a cute girl, too. You give really good hugs. Do you know that?"

In a poof of yellow smoke, the rabbit in Rin's arms turns into a surprisingly clothed person in blue, a small, blonde young woman with a cheeky grin on her face.

"Surprised to see me, Miyako, Yusuke?"
"Completely shameless, you are."
"Momo Mitsui, part-time bard and escape artist, at your service."
"Eh...?"

Meanwhile, Traxesa and the Kaneko twins suddenly realise something is going on. Specifically, their Gnoses are pulsing gently, as if sensing something nearby.

_{"Pray she never catches you without your hood on."}

"Don't sell yourself so short, Setsurou. Besides, without you watching my back, gods know how I might've turned out."
"Wait, stop! Be careful!"
Rin is suddenly by the side of the Kamisato soldier driving the wagon, pointing out something on the road. His grip tightens on the reins as he pulls back to stop the horses, using his other hand to signal the carriage behind.
"....stop! Stop!"

In the middle of the road is a golden-furred rabbit, staring curiously at the carriages. Its eyes are shockingly blue. Rin clambers out of the wagon, running over to the rabbit and scooping it up in her arms, runing back to the wagon.

"Sorry. I....didn't want to run her over, you know? I promise, I'll let her off once we get to Sangonomiya."
"...!"
"....she looks really cute, though. I wish I could take her with me. Who's a cute little rabbit?"
The rabbit nuzzles in further to Rin's arms in response.

To Miyako, Taiga and Yusuke, of course, their senses confirm what they might have suspected.

This is the Cursed Rabbit, Momo Mitsui.
"Uh..."
"....uh?"